SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 996

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 153812

                            CHAMBER ACTION
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11  Senator Wise moved the following amendment:

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13         Senate Amendment 

14         On page 3, line 22, through

15            page 5, line 14, delete those lines

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17  and insert:  children and eligible young adults in foster care

18  and eligible young adults who were formerly in foster care

19  which accomplish the goals for the independent-living

20  transition services and provide the service components for

21  services for foster children, as provided in subsection (3),

22  and services for young adults who were formerly in foster

23  care, as provided in subsection (5).

24         (d)  For children in foster care, independent-living

25  transition services are not an alternative to adoption.

26  Independent-living transition services may occur concurrently

27  with continued efforts to locate and achieve placement in

28  adoptive families for older children in foster care.

29         (2)  ELIGIBILITY.--

30         (a)  The department shall serve children who are 13 to

31  18 years of age and who are in foster care through the program

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                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 996

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 153812





  1  component of services for foster children provided in

  2  subsection (3). Children to be served must meet the

  3  eligibility requirements set forth for specific services as

  4  provided in this section and through department rule.

  5         (b)  The department shall serve young adults who are 18

  6  to 23 years of age and who were in foster care when they

  7  turned 18 years of age through the program component of

  8  services for young adults through a continuum of an array of

  9  transition services using state and federal funds for foster

10  care. The continuum of services may include options that range

11  from remaining in current foster care placement, assisted

12  living in a group home, or fully independent living, depending

13  on the skill and maturity of the child. Services may include,

14  but are not limited to, educational and vocational training

15  and developing personal support systems as more fully set

16  forth in subsection (8). Youth who were in foster care prior

17  to age 18 and who leave foster care at age 18 are eligible for

18  services as set forth in subsection (5). Children to be served

19  must meet the eligibility requirements set forth for specific

20  services in this section and through department rule.

21         (3)  PROGRAM COMPONENT OF SERVICES FOR FOSTER

22  CHILDREN.--The department shall provide the following

23  transition to independence services to children in foster care

24  who meet prescribed conditions and are determined eligible by

25  the department. The service categories available to children

26  in foster care which facilitate successful transition into

27  adulthood are:

28         (a)  Pre-independent-living services.--

29         1.  Pre-independent-living services include, but are

30  not limited to, life-skills training, educational field trips,

31  and conferences. The specific services to be provided to a

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    8:35 AM   03/07/02                              s0996c1b-06j01




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for SB 996

    Amendment No. ___   Barcode 153812





  1  child shall be determined using a pre-independent-living

  2  assessment.

  3         2.  A child 13 to 15 years of age who is in foster care

  4  is eligible for such services.

  5         (b)  Life-skills services.--

  6         1.  Life-skills services may include, but are not

  7  limited to, independent-living-skills training, educational

  8  support, employment training, and counseling. The specific

  9  services to be provided to a child shall be determined using

10  an independent-life-skills assessment.

11         2.  A child 15 to 23 years of age who is in foster care

12  is eligible for such services.

13         (c)  Subsidized independent-living services.--

14         1.  Subsidized independent-living services are living

15  arrangements that allow the child to live independently of the

16  daily care and supervision of an adult in a setting that is

17  not required to be licensed under s. 409.175.

18         2.  A child 16 to 23 years of age is eligible for such

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